ANZAC DAY -Lest we Forget

At Anzac Day this year, war is more than a distant memory. Each day, the media carry stories of the war in Ukraine and speculation about the possibility of conflict with China.

The war in Ukraine has also brought home to us the costs of war on people whose lives were much like our own before war came to them. We hear of people killed daily in bombings and see pictures of refugees driven from their homes. A battle, relatively unimportant in strategic terms, continues to take thousands of lives, its value estimated by the relative number of soldiers killed and wounded on the other side.

The people who are the counters in this calculus are young men on both sides, many conscripted, many longing for a peaceful life, with parents, brothers and sisters, wives and fiancées. This war, like most others, will end in a negotiated settlement, in a peace of sorts, with embitterment, with some pride, with towns and cities to be rebuilt, with much impoverishment and with much grief. The war may not be lost. But in human terms, it is never won.

Anzac Day is rightly a day in which we remember the people who were affected by a battle in Turkey over a hundred years ago and people who were affected by later wars in which Australians took part. We rightly remember those who were killed in war. We remember those who fought and survived, burdened by the memories of war, of its horrors and its companionship. We also remember the people affected indirectly by war – the families whose son, father and brother died in the war, the wives who lost a husband and the young women a fiancé, the families to whom a father returned wounded in body or spirit, the young women who never married for lack of eligible men, the small communities that lost the young men who could have been their future.

Anzac Day is a time for empathy and compassion. It is a time to remember the destruction and sadness of war and not the glory nor the enablers of war.

Lest We Forget

Reflection by Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ

RUSHWORTH ANZAC MARCH

Yesterday some of our students marched with me in the Rushworth RSL Anzac March. I thank them and their parents for giving this time to honour the ANZACs. Thank you to Kaitlyn and Sophie Garvey, Billie Johnston, Pippa and Indi Lockwood, Tannah King, Bryce Hudson and Eliza Hunt. Kaitlyn and Billie laid the wreath at the War Memorial.

I also attended the RSL dawn service in Tatura which attracted a huge crowd. I noticed that while the RSL personnel are capably leading the dawn service, their numbers are dwindling. I wonder who would continue this significant event as time goes on.

Our F/1/2 students presented a very reflective Anzac prayer service this morning. Our students read the Ode, listened to the Last Post and Reveille and observed a minute silence.

SYMPATHY

We offer our sympathy and prayers to Peta Williams and David Baldwin on the death of their father Ray Baldwin and Calvin, Sharon, Cooper and Sienna Gleeson on the death of their father and grandfather Terry Gleeson.

CONGRATULATIONS

Our congratulations to Scarlett’s parents, Prue Keating and Steven Badgery, who were married on Saturday at the Shiraz Republic, Cornella. We wish you much love and happiness.

TERM 2 UNIFORM

While the autumn weather continues students are still able to wear their summer uniform. We will advise when winter uniform is necessary. Please ensure that all jackets and jumpers are clearly named as this is the time of year that we find jumpers and jackets left in the playground and it is hard to return the garment to the rightful owner if it is not named.

WORK OVER THE HOLIDAYS

The window in the 3/4 classroom was painted, the whiteboard in F/1/2 room was attached to the wall and the new outdoor tables and seats were assembled.

The current blue outdoor tables and seats will be moved to outside the hall. Once the heavy tables are moved we can move the lighter aluminium tables into the eating area.

If any dad is able to spare some time during this week to move the VERY HEAVY tables (a trailer would be needed) please call the office on 58 561 347.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Wednesday May 3 -Curriculum Literacies – Mrs Parry F/1/2 Mrs Fraser & Mrs Jamieson

Monday May 8 – Tuesday May 9 -SIMON conference – Georgia and Peta

PUPIL FREE DAY Friday May 12th – Staff attending an Auslan Conference

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Mrs Parry has been in contact with the Rushworth Community House and our senior students will be participating in craft sessions with the residents of Waranga Aged Care. This is an ideal way of spending time with our aged community as we are unable to participate in activities in the hostel. This partnership will begin on Monday May 8th.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH PROGRAM

Students from Rushworth P-12 College will be volunteering their time at St Mary’s as part of the Duke of Edinburgh program which entails 13 hours of volunteerism.

INTERSCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY

Next Wednesday May 3, our grade 4 -6 students will participate in the interschool cross country at Princess Park Shepparton. The bus will leave at 9.45am and return to school by approximately 3.00pm. Please ensure that you have acknowledged the permission form on PAM. Foundation - Grade 3 students will remain at school with Mrs Jamieson and Mrs Fraser.

OPEN DAY

Our Open day will be celebrated on Friday May 19th with guided tours and open classrooms from 11.35am – 1.35pm. We will have a sausage sizzle at 1.35pm.

We invite current families, new families, grandparents and friends to our school. If you know of any family who is deciding on their choice of education for their child please remind them that our open day is on May 19th.

Catherine Fraser

Prayers and Acknowledgments

Mrs Fraser